Cemetery vase



July 4, 1967 M. A. NEWMAN 3,328,914

CEMETERY VASE Filed July 28, 1965 INVENTOR MoRms A. NEWMAN United States Patent O 3,328,914 CEMETERY VASE Morris A. Newman, 2800 Wills St., Eldorado, Ill. 62930 Filed July 28, 1965, Ser. No. 475,531 6 Claims. (Cl. 4741.1)

The present invention relates to a vase arrangement for use in a cemetery, for example, adjacent to a grave site.

There are -available in the prior art various types and styles of vase arrangements for use adjacent to a 4headstone. One desirable feature incorporated in presently available vase arrangements is the capability of supporting the vase upright projecting above the ground ready for reception of owers and alternatively of supporting the vase in an overturned position projecting down into the ground in a suitable casing provided for the vase. T-hus, the lawn adjacent to the vase arrangement can be easily mowed when the vase is received in the ground. One disadvantage of such presently available vase arrangements is the fact that when the vase is supported in an upright `condition above the ground, it is susceptible to being blown over by the wind and rain. Furthermore, if the vase is used in the wintertime, water placed in the vase for the flowers therein can freeze causing the vase to be broken and cracked.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved vase arrangement.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vase arrangement which is constructed to prevent freezing of water in the vase in the wintertime.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vase arrangement which cannot be overturned by the elements when the vase is supported in -an upright, above-the-ground position.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a vase arrangement wherein a monogram or other indicia on the vase is always displayed in the same direction relative to the grave site.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the lfollowing description and claims.

FIG. l is a perspective view of a vase arrangement constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the longitudinal axis of the vase arrangement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a casing forming a part of the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a ybottom plan view of a disc forming a part of the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the -art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a vase arrangement 10 which includes a ,j 3,328,914 Patented July 4, 1967 casing 11 and a vase 12. The casing 11 may be either closed or opened at its lower end but preferably is open as illustrated in FIG. 2 to provide for drainage of Water from the casing 11. Thus, in FIG. 2 there are a plurality of apertures 15 provided at the lower end 16 of the casing. T-he casing 11 is normally sunk into the ground so that the upper edge of the casing is dlush with the ground. The upper end 17 of the casing -is formed with an inturned ange 20 and with a ledge 23 spaced from and parallel to the flange 20. The lange 20 has formed therein a pair of recesses 21 and 22 which, as shown in F'IG. 3, are different in size. Thus, the recess 22 extends in a rotational direction about the axis 25 a greater distance than does the recess 21.

The vase 12 has an open end 26 and a closed or base end 28 from which extends an externally threaded projection 27. Tightly threaded -onto the projection 27 is a disc 30 which has a pair of lingers 31 and 32 of diftferent size projecting radially therefrom. Preferably the disc is composed of heavier material than the vase 12 to assist in retaining the vase upright. The lingers 31 and 32 correspond in size to the recesses 21 and 22. That is, the finger 32 is too large to be moved through the recess 21 even though the disc can be moved into the casing 11 smoothly and easily by passing the finger 31 through the recess 21 and the finger 32 through the recess 22.

Also formed in the casing 11 and more particularly in the ledge 23 is a further pair of recesses 35 and 36 which are displace-d rotationally about the axis 25 an equal amount from respective recesses 21 and 22. It can be appreciated that when the vase 12 with its attached disc 30 is moved through the recesses 21 and 22 and rotated into the position illustrated in FIG. 5 with lche finger 31 received in the recess 35, the vase 12 is then mounted so as to prevent tilting of the vase by the wind. lf the wind does tend to tilt the vase, either the linger 31 or the finger 32 will engage the flange 20 preventing further tilting.

Referring to FIG. 7, `there is illustrated a `further embodiment of the present invention which is generally identical to the embodiment of rFIGS. l through 6 except for the fact that recess 35 in the ledge 2-3 is rotationally displaced relative to the recess 21 by a greater distance than the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5. Also, there is additionally provided a stud at the edge of `the recess 21 and projecting downwardly beneath the ange 20 so as -to prevent the finger 31 Afrom moving leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 7 to a position where it can move out of the recess 21 and permit tilting of the vase. The embodiment of FIG. 7 prevents such a condition because the stud `50 tends to block leftward movement, as viewed in lFIG. 7, of the linger 31'.

Formed on one face of the vase 12 is a monogram of indicia 51. Because the disc 30 is lixed relative to the vase 12, the vase arrangement of the present invention can be inserted into the ground adjacent a grave site with the indicia 51 presented toward the grave site when the vase is mounted upright as shown in FIG. 1 or with the indicia 51 presented in any desired direction. Whenever the vase is removed and remounted in the casing, it is always mounted in the same position because of the different sizes of the fingers 31 and 32 and the recesses through which they move and are seated.

Mounted within the vase '12 adjacent the lower end 28 thereof is a plastic member 55 having a plurality of radially projecting lingers 56 which engage the vase and dene apertures 57 int-o which iiower stems can be projected for better securing iiowers within the va-se. A further important feature of the present invention is the internally threaded cap or handle 60 which is connected to the isc 30 by Va chain 62. In the wintertime or cold weather, he cap 60 is unthreaded from the projection 27 so that vater can flow out ofthe vase 12 through the opening 61. he cap 60 also functions as a hand hold for mounting the 'ase 12 into the casing 11 in an upside down position as `uggested in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

Of course, the projections 31 and 32 and the recesses L1 and 22 :are used in such a way as to drop the disc inside he casing where the cap 6i) is out of range of a mower alade. Also, when the vase is in overturned position the :ap 60 can be removed in order to permit water to ow )ut of the vase and to not float the vase out of the casing. )f course, the recesses 35 and 36 `can be used when the fase is overturned to lock the vase down in the casing 11 :imilarly to the locking thereof when 4the vase is upright.

It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides an improved vase arrangement .ncorporating means for preventing the freezing of water in :he vase and the resulting cracking thereof. It will also be evident that the present invention provides an improved vase arrangement which is designed to prevent tilting of the vase in the wind and rain.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A vase arrangement including a vase having an open end and a closed end, a casing having an open upper end and adapted to be embedded in the ground, means for securing said vase closed end -to said casing at the open upper end thereof in an upwardly extending position and in a downwardly extending position projecting into said casing, and an externally threaded projection extending from the closed end of said vase, said projection having an opening therethrough, and a cap threadedly received on said projection and sealing off said opening, said means for securing comprising a disc having an internally threaded opening adapted to thread onto said projection,

said vase having an abutment adjacent to said externally threaded projection against which said disc can be jammed by threading said disc on said projection whereby said projection serves the double function of mounting said disc and mounting said cap.

2. A vase arrangement including a vase having an open end and a closed end, a casing having an open upper end and adapted to be embedded in the ground, a disc secured to the closed end of said vase, said disc having a pair of radially extending .fingers formed thereon with one of said fingers larger than the other of said lingers, said casing having a pair of inwardly facing slots therein at said open upper end and correspondingly sized to tit said respective fingers, each of said slots having a first portion leading downwardly then a second portion leading sidewardly and then a third portion leading downwardly, said casing being lformed to prevent substantial tilting of said vase when said fingers are received in said third portion, said vase having indicia thereon intended to face in a given direction.

3. A vase arrangement including an elongated vase having `a longitudinal axis and having an open end and a.closed end, .an elongated casing having a longitudinal axis and having an open upper end and adapted to be ernbedded in the ground, an externally threaded projection extending axially from the closed end of said vase, a disc threadedly received on said projection, chain means securing said cap to said disc, said casing being formed with an inturned flange at-the open end thereof and with a ledge parallel to and spaced from said flange, said flange 4 having a pair of recesses therein of different size, said disc having a pair of radially and oppositely extending fingers thereon of different size adapted to move through said recesses, said ledge having a pair of recesses therein which are displaced rotationally about said casing axis relative to said flange recesses yand sized to receive said fingers, said ledge recesses being sized appropriately for receiving said fingers.

4. 'A vase arrangement including an elongated vase having a longitudinal axis .and having lan open end and a closed end, an elongated casing having a longitudinal axis and having an open upper end and adapted to be embedded in the ground, an externally threaded projection extending axially from the closed end of said vase, said projection having an aperture therethrough, a disc threadedly received on said projection, a removable cap threaded onto said projection, chain means securing said cap to said disc, said casing being formed with an inturned flange at the open end thereof and with a ledge parallel to and spaced from said ange, said flange having a pair of recesses therein of different size, said disc having a pair of radially and oppositely extending ylingers thereon of different size adapted to move through said recesses.

5. A vase arrangement including :an elongated vase having a longitudinal axis and having an open end and a closed end, an elongated casing having a longitudinal axis and having an open upper end and adapted to be embedded in the ground, an externally threaded projection extending axially from the closed end of said vase, said projection having an aperture therethrough, a disc threadedly received on said projection, a removable cap threaded onto said projection, chain -means securing said cap to said disc, said casing being formed with an inturned flange at the open end thereof and with a ledge parallel to and spaced from said flange, said ange having a pair of recesses therein of different size, said disc having a pair of radially and oppositely extending fingers thereon of different size adapted to move through said recesses, said ledge having a pair of recesses therein which are displaced rotationally about said casing yaxis relative to said flange recesses, said ledge recesses being sized appropriately for receiving said lingers.

6. A vase arrangement including an elongated vase having ya longitudinal axis and having an open end and a closed end, an elongated casing yhaving a longitudinal axis and having an open upper end and adapted to be embedded in the ground, an externally threaded projection extending axially from the closed end of said vase, said projection having an aperture therethrough, a disc threadedly received on said projection, a removable cap threaded onto said projection, chain means securing said cap to` said disc, said casing being formed with an inturned iiange at the open end thereof and with a ledge parallel to and spaced from said ange, said flange having a pair of recesses therein of diierent size, said disc having a pair of radially and oppositely extending fingers thereon of different size adapted to move through said recesses, said ledge 'having a pair of recesses therein which are displaced rotationally about said casing axis relative to said ilange recesses `and are sized to receive said lingers, said ledge recesses being sized appropriately for receiving said fingers, and a downwardly projecting stud being formed on said flange adjacent to one of said recesses for preventing said fingers from moving away from their appropriate ledge recesses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1954 Carlson L17-41.1 l/1966 King 47--41 X 

1. A VASE ARRANGEMENT INCLUDING A VASE HAVING AN OPEN END AND A CLOSED END, A CASING HAVING AN OPEN UPPER END AND ADAPTED TO BE EMBEDDED IN THE GROUND, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID VASE CLOSED END TO SAID CASING AT THE OPEN UPPER END THEREOF IN AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING POSITION AND IN A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING POSITION PROJECTING INTO SAID CASING, AND AN EXTERNALLY THREADED PROJECTION EXTENDING FROM THE CLOSED END OF SAID VASE, SAID PROJECTION HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, AND A CAP THREADEDLY RECEIVED ON SAID PROJECTION AND SEALING OFF SAID OPENING, SAID MEANS FOR SECURING COMPRISING A DISC HAVING AN INTERNALLY THREADED OPENING ADAPTED TO THREAD ONTO SAID PROJECTION, SAID VASE HAVING AN ABUTMENT ADJACENT TO SAID EXTERNALLY THREADED PROJECTION AGAINST WHICH SAID DISC CAN BE JAMMED BY THREADING SAID DISC ON SAID PROJECTION WHEREBY SAID PROJECTION SERVES THE DOUBLE FUNCTION OF MOUNTING SAID DISC AND MOUNTING SAID CAP. 